Milwaukee, Wis. -- The Blue Angels of Mount Mary University welcomed the Calumet Crimson Wave to the Bloechl Center for their season finale. The matchup was nothing short of exciting. The game consisted of not one, but two buzzer beaters. Avery Gorn (Waterford, Wis.) beat the buzzer to end the half. Vanessa Diaz (Kissimmee, Fla.) tied up the ball game with a side-step three-point make with only two seconds remaining. Deja Rivers (Kenosha, Wis.) capped off her career in the most iconic way by knocking down a half-court buzzer beater with .5 seconds on the clock. The Blue Angels came out victorious 70-69. With the win over Calumet, Josh Steffen, head basketball coach, takes the reins for the most wins in the Blue Angel basketball program's history.  

Senior Day:

The Blue Angels recognized senior Deja Rivers for her four years of commitment to the basketball program. Her statistical accomplishments are many, and Deja has been as important in the growth of Mount Mary basketball as any player in the program's history. 

Deja has played in 87 games, starting 46. Deja currently has scored 872 points- 3rd most in program history, grabbed 254 rebounds- 5th most in program history, and dished out 124 assists- 4th most in program history. Deja also ranks top 10 all-time in 3-point percentage and has averaged 10 points and 5 rebounds per game for her entire Blue Angel career. 

During the 22-23 season, Deja set a single-season record with 163 overall field goals. She also achieved her career highs of 30 points and 19 rebounds in a single game. She ranks in the top 10 in 8 different single-season categories, and her amazing 22-23 season was recognized by Deja being named 1st team all-conference and the Coast-to-Coast Conference Newcomer of the year. 

Most impressively, Deja has been part of the winningest season in school history, the winningest two-year period in school history, the winningest three-year period, and the winningest four-year period in school history. In the 13 seasons prior to Deja's arrival, the program won 70 games. Deja has been part of 38 wins in her four years, the winningest period in Blue Angel Basketball history. 

Coach Steffen had this to say, "I cannot explain how special Deja Rivers is to me and how much she has meant to Mount Mary Basketball. Her incredible talent is topped only by her ability to overcome adversity to continue when many others would not have had the heart to do so. Deja has rewritten many of the Mount Mary Basketball record books, but most impressively to me, she was the most important person in taking a program with 0 wins to a record-setting program in just two years of her arrival. Deja is a special player and an even more special person, and we cannot thank her enough for all she has done for Blue Angel Basketball." 

Box Score Highlights:    

• The Blue Angels had three starts in double-digits. Norriah Broomfield (Milwaukee, Wis.) led the pack with 29 points. She shot 52% from the field. She also picked up 20 boards. 
• Diaz knocked down three triples, including a clutch make with two seconds remaining. She totaled 15 points on the day. 
• Gorn also drained three triples and chipped in 13 points. 

This concludes the 2025-2026 Mount Mary University Blue Angels basketball season. They finished 9-19 in their first year of transition to the NAIA and the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC). The Blue Angels will continue to make strides in recruiting and get to work in the off-season. Coverage for all things MMU basketball can be found at mtmaryathletics.com. Additional coverage can be found on Instagram @mmuhoops and Facebook @Mount Mary University Women's Basketball.